Fake news dies hard!
Actor, singer, and host, Billy Crawford, became the latest celebrity to be a victim of a death hoax that spread across social media platforms. These rumors falsely claimed that he had died due to an illness supposedly linked to weight loss from lifestyle changes. However, these claims were entirely false.
To prove he’s still alive, Billy posted videos on his own social media accounts. One of the videos shared on November 2, showed him performing in France as part of the “I Gotta Feeling – La Tourne” concert series, directly contradicting the rumors of his death.
In addition, his wife, actress Coleen Garcia posted a Halloween video that featured the family in costume as the characters from Inside Out. Billy appeared in good health, dressed as the character Anger, Coleen as Disgust, and their son, Amari as Joy. This joyful family moment further debunked the false rumors, showing that Billy is alive, healthy, and in good spirits.
In the 21st century, celebrity death hoaxes have become widespread, largely fueled by the internet. However, these hoaxes are far from a modern invention. In earlier decades, rumors about the deaths of stars like Charlie Chaplin and Frank Sinatra also made headlines. One of the most infamous hoaxes in history was the “Paul is dead” rumor, which claimed that Paul McCartney had died in a car crash in 1966 and was secretly replaced by a look-alike.
Among other death hoaxes, here we explore other celebrities who have fallen victim to similar fictitious deaths.
JAIME FABREGAS
A death rumor surrounding veteran actor Jaime Fabregas, best known for his role as Lolo Delfin in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, began circulating on June 15, 2023. The claim was first made in a TikTok post, and a quick search on Facebook revealed at least five additional posts spreading the same false information.
These posts included links that allegedly led to the actor’s “final video,” but upon investigation, the links redirected to an online shopping page instead.
Fabregas quickly debunked the rumor by posting a video on Instagram on June 16, 2023, where he appeared on camera and said, “Mga kababayan, ngayon po ay June 16, 2023. Ako po ay buhay na buhay, ayan nakikita ninyo.”
PEPE HERRERA
Actor-singer Pepe Herrera, best known for portraying Benny in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, recently debunked a death hoax circulating on TikTok. The false claim, accompanied by a black-and-white image of Herrera and the text, “Pepe Herrera 1987-2024 Rest in Peace,” was shared in a TikTok post.
In response, Herrera took to his Facebook to call out the hoax, assuring his followers that he is very much alive. He posted a screenshot of the TikTok post and wrote, “Buhay na buhay po ako at tatanda hanggang 100 years old, God willing. To the person who created this, God bless you, and may the Lords of Karma guide you.”
KIM ATIENZA
Rumors began circulating that television host Kim Atienza, popularly known as Kuya Kim, had passed away on June 3, 2024. A TikTok account with the name GMA and a blue diamond emoji posted a black-and-white photo of Kuya Kim with the caption, “Maraming salamat, Alejandro ‘Kim’ Iligan Atienza.”
Kuya Kim quickly debunked the death hoax by sharing a screenshot of the post and writing “HOAX” in bold red capital letters. He added the caption, “Aabot din tayo diyan, but not today.” The following day, June 4, he appeared on the GMA news program 24 Oras to host his segment, “Kuya Kim, Ano Na?”
KRIS AQUINO
Rumors circulated that Kris Aquino had died in America on January 23, 2022, after a video was posted on the Facebook page “Angel Locsin TimeNews.” The video, titled “JUST IN: Kris Aquino PUMANAW NA! sa AMERICA? NGAYONG 4PM LANG,” falsely claimed the actress had passed away. The post gained significant attention, with over 22,000 reactions and 3,000 shares. However, it wasn’t the only post spreading this false information; similar rumors were circulating across multiple platforms.
While Kris Aquino has faced health challenges, she is very much alive. On January 24, 2022, she addressed the rumors directly through her official and verified Instagram account, labeling the death claims as “fake news.”
“Ayaw akong tigilan ng fake news and parang sobrang excited yung mga trolls na within 1 year both Noy & me would pass away. Sorry to disappoint pero buhay at ilalaban pa na mapahaba ang oras ko because Kuya Josh & Bimb still need me.” Aquino said in her captions.
RODRIGO DUTERTE
A video posted on March 17, 2024, falsely claimed that former President Rodrigo Duterte had passed away. The video originated from a TikTok account with the username @whatcountry0000, which is known for posting content that mocks Duterte. The video quickly gained traction, amassing over 100K views, and many viewers seemed to believe the claim.
The video features an image of Vice President Sara Duterte, the former president’s daughter, at what appears to be a wake. She is shown standing in front of a casket draped in the Philippine flag, surrounded by uniformed military personnel, with the text “Rest in peace” displayed on screen.
However, the claim is false. Rodrigo Duterte is alive and well. His most recent post on his official and verified Facebook page was made on April 10, 2024, linking to a video introducing his TikTok account. Additionally, he was seen in photos and a live video posted the same day by Senator Bong Go, where he was celebrating the birthday of his daughter, Kitty.
MICHAEL J. FOX
In 2018, Michael J. Fox, best known for his role as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, became the target of a death hoax linked to his age and ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease. On August 5, a fraudulent report surfaced on a website designed to mislead readers into thinking it was an official Yahoo! News article.
The fake report claimed that Fox had died on the morning of August 5 from pneumonia, just days after being hospitalized for complications related to Parkinson’s disease. It further stated that the actor’s death had been confirmed by his doctors.
Although Fox did not directly address the hoax, he shared an Instagram post two days later, featuring a photo of him at the beach with the caption, “Life’s a beach.” His followers quickly expressed relief and joy that the rumors were false, and the actor was alive and well.
SIMON COWELL
In 2023, a series of clickbait Facebook posts directed users to websites featuring digitally altered photos that falsely claimed to show America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell in a hospital bed or at his funeral. Posted between July 24 and 30, the misleading content gained over 36,000 interactions. While many Filipinos quickly debunked the death hoax, others, believing the false claims, expressed their condolences.
WAYNE KNIGHT
The American actor who portrayed Newman, the mailman, on the hit sitcom Seinfeld took to Twitter on March 16, 2014, to confirm he was alive after a fake news story circulated claiming he had died in a car crash. The fabricated report, which spread across the internet—including a bogus TMZ website—alleged that his Mercedes had collided with a tractor-trailer.
Wayne debunked the death hoax by posting a tweet the next day with captions, “Some of you will be glad to hear this, others strangely disappointed, but… I am alive and well!” To which he later added, “Does someone have to DIE to trend? Geez! Thanks for all the love everybody. I didn’t know you cared. Glad to be breathing!”
JUSTIN BIEBER
On September 6, 2024, a Facebook post claiming that Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber had died in a car crash began circulating online. The post included several images, one of which featured a black-and-white photo of Bieber with the text “RIP” and “Rest in Peace.” The other photo showed a red car that crashed. The post reached 103 shares and 319 reacts.
However, the claim was quickly debunked. A reverse image search revealed that the photo of the crashed red car was taken from a 2022 car accident in Poland, confirming that the post was a hoax.
Celebrity death news may sound heartbreaking, but be sure to fact check those news in order to avoid unnecessary pain and confusion. As we navigate the digital age, it’s crucial to verify news and approach rumors with caution to protect ourselves from the harm of false stories.
Be careful what you read. Know the difference between “fiction” and “truth”.
